Aziel was eventually convicted.
The sentence was not severe, but it was enough to leave a permanent stain on his record.
Everlast formally terminated his employment and reserved the right to pursue further legal action.
As for the money he owed me, his family scraped together half of it.
The remainder will be recovered through court proceedings over time.
Aziel's mother came to see me once.
She sat in a café, tears streaming down her face. "Miss Waverly, Aziel was foolish, but he is not a bad person at heart."
I said nothing.
She pushed an old envelope toward me. "There are twenty thousand here. Please take it first. We will pay back the rest. Is there any chance you could write a statement of forgiveness?"
Looking at her greying hair, I felt genuine sympathy.
But feeling sympath
